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Woman III Jil Sander 2012

Version from 2012

7.2 / 10 46 Ratings

A perfume by Jil Sander for women, released in 2012. The scent is woody-floral. It was last marketed by Coty.
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Main accords

Woody

Floral

Spicy

Chypre

Powdery

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Bergamot

Bitter orange

Coriander

Heart Notes

Carnation

Rose

Base Notes

Patchouli

Ratings

Scent

7.246 Ratings

Longevity

7.331 Ratings

Sillage

7.128 Ratings

Bottle

7.038 Ratings

Submitted by DonVanVliet · last update on 04/17/2025.

Source-backed & verified

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

Woman III (1986) Eau de Toilette

Reviews

5 in-depth fragrance descriptions

08/02/2016

8Scent 7Longevity 8Sillage

Pluto
353 Reviews

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Pluto

Top Review 29

old friendships....

Once a year, I organize the "Summer Hardcore Class Reunion" in the beer garden; we are between 10 and 14 schoolmates and usually close the place down late at night. I am especially looking forward to seeing my "bosom friend" from my teenage years. We only have sporadic contact now, but when we talk or see each other, it's as if we saw each other just yesterday. We go from one topic to another and can even communicate across the table with just glances. We don't have to pretend; we know our families, know where we come from, and are aware of things about each other that were or are embarrassing. This is usually reserved for friendships from childhood. Last year, I noticed her fragrance; it seemed familiar, and I wanted to ask about it. But as it goes, everyone chats wildly, and you forget what you wanted to ask or say. This year, we sat next to each other again, and there was much to report. Her cancer, which she defeated two years ago, is back, with metastases; now she wears a wig and has lost 20 kilos. "Everyone says you've never had such beautiful hair, it's really great, you can't even tell it's a wig. The health insurance pays for it; I hardly had to pay anything. But I have little flabby arms now, look." Yes, we laughed a lot; she hasn't lost her humor and quick wit. We sat close together, and I was constantly brushed by a hint of her fragrance, somewhat oriental, really not suitable for 30 degrees, yet still quite appealing. The scent reminded me of Lancaster, which I hadn't smelled in years. "No, Jil Sander, but which number, no idea. I'll check at home and let you know next time."

We haven't called yet, but it's number III; an offer tempted me, the description could fit, ordered. And I was lucky. A chypre, of course, it's clear why I noticed this scent. I’m just copying my notes from the test: Top: Green grapefruit, a harsh, bitter note, something herbal, galbanum? No, coriander, maybe basil? Heart: Increasingly warm and spicy, clove! Dry, creamy-balsamic. Base: Still spicy clove and well-measured patch. Sillage: 20 cm, strong at first, longevity about 6 hours, unisex? No, yes, no, I wouldn’t like to smell it on men, for whatever reason.

I know that I noticed the scent many years ago, still pondering who it was. Whether it was better before, I can't judge. I like Woman III well; will it be a permanent resident? I don't know, I miss a bit of freshness. For me, Woman III is a floral-oriental chypre and good to wear in cooler temperatures. In a few weeks, I will meet my school friend outside of the regular schedule, a few days after her next chemo. In such life challenges, people come closer together again; support and normalcy are important, and together some things become easier. Oh, I’ll gift her the bottle. Fingers crossed!!

04/13/2013

7Scent

Antoine
207 Reviews

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Antoine

Top Review

The Skeleton Lives!

Reformulated reissues of older fragrances are probably not easy to sell to men (or women). The lovers of the original scent will approach the reissue with suspicion, perceiving all changes as disturbing, and in doubt will prefer the original. And new, younger buyer demographics will likely opt for a genuine new release instead of acquiring the "lifted" version of a fragrance that their parents or even grandparents have in their bathroom. This dilemma was certainly recognized by the marketing team at Jil Sander. Nevertheless, they dared to reissue the Jil Sander classic Woman III from 1986.

I find that the reissue is largely successful. My perfume socialization took place in the 80s, and the Chypre classics from Aromatics to Woman III have shaped my sense of scent. Therefore, it is simply impossible for me to approach the reissue of Woman III completely unprejudiced. However, if I try to free myself from direct comparisons with the original or even with other Chypre classics, I believe that a contemporary, quite cautious and thoughtful reinterpretation of the Chypre theme has taken place here.

The most concessions to today's taste, in my opinion, are made by the top note: It is fruity, pleasing, subtly sweet, and has a very rounded and velvety impression, like many current women's fragrances in the drydown. The Chypre framework initially only emerges very, very slowly behind this smooth, velvety-fruity top note, shimmering through for quite some time like a skeleton - a sad skeleton, I thought during the first test. But the fragrance simply needs time; the Chypre skeleton does not remain a skeleton but slowly comes to the forefront, becoming more and more alive as the fruity-smooth top note fades away, and eventually it is there: an almost pure Chypre. Floral, herbal, mossy, earthy, still slightly overlaid by this contemporary velvety smoothness - a kind of near-Chypre; in a way, a version of Chypre that, despite its Chypre character, may just barely pass as mass-market suitable from a marketing perspective today.

I do not hide the fact that I prefer the real, old Chypres - if it’s going to be done, then let it be the real deal! But the goal of launching an updated reissue of Woman III that fits today's fragrance habits, a Chypre scent with concessions to contemporary taste, without completely abandoning the structures of the old version and with respect for the old formulation, this goal has been well achieved here.

02/07/2015

10Scent 10Longevity 7.5Sillage

Tininiska
4 Reviews

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Tininiska

Helpful Review 3

unbiased....smelled....spontaneously liked....

well, what can I say - I don't know the old original scent. Therefore, I can only follow my amateur nose....
First, I smelled the fragrance on a colleague. Mhm, it just appealed to me. And the scent lasted a long time ... a whole workday that I spent with my colleague. Again and again, it wafted into my nose and I knew....I have to have it.
Somehow it reminded me of "green love" by Nerval, a musk fragrance, but not sweet. Although musk is not listed among the ingredients!?! My nose seems to be deceiving me, but the sensation that this scent leaves is sensual, pleasant, without being intrusive or provocatively erotic.
It is not a sweet fragrance, but also not too harsh, even the patchouli does not stand out, but rounds it off pleasantly.
It’s best to test...and enjoy - or discard the fragrance. As it always is, everyone perceives a scent quite differently.

09/25/2014

6Scent 5Longevity 5Sillage

Noedde
52 Reviews

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Noedde

3

A Light Reminder of a Great Fragrance.

But that’s about it. Unfortunately, it cannot hold a candle to the wonderful original, although its roots are clearly recognizable. This scent is neither as dense and enveloping nor as rounded as Woman 3 from the 80s. The longevity and sillage of this new edition are also far behind its predecessor. Nevertheless, I bought it again when I came across one of the last bottles - you can't really call it a flacon - at a bargain price. In memory of old times with an otherworldly beautiful fragrance. When I apply it in the morning, I can easily wear another perfume in the evening. By then, it’s gone.
In the meantime, this fragrance is also only encountered very sporadically. It seems to no longer be in production. I don’t find that too troubling. When the original scent was taken off the market, there was mourning, which still continues today.

However, I must say for the sake of fairness, if I hadn’t known the original and had tested it without bias, I would have found it to be a very positive scent for our fruity-sweet times today.

A sales associate at a perfume store once explained to me that the original scent takes quite a long time to develop into what it ultimately represents. Such fragrances are no longer easily sellable today, as most customers do not take the time to wait until the scents are truly present. Today, everything has to be there immediately, and then it’s either bought - or not.
If that was one of the reasons for clipping the original's wings, it’s quite a shame and evidently not very successful.

Addendum:
What joy! I received a bottle of the old original fragrance from a friend yesterday. She bought it at some point because she thought it was so great on me and later realized that it wasn’t her scent after all. It disappeared into the depths of her wardrobe. Now, in direct comparison, I can say even more definitively: These two fragrances are worlds apart!!! Even though a perfume saleswoman recently emphasized again that the scent has never been changed according to the manufacturer... that is definitely not true!

12/06/2012

Tamagucci
12 Reviews

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Tamagucci

1

Therapy for Persistent Bad Breath....

Take:

1 toothbrush cup that smells very, very strongly of plastic (probably available at the 1-Euro store), fill it with warm water (so the plastic fumes really come to life), add a few drops of Odol and garnish it all with a tiny spritz of the good old Jil Sander - Woman III (which was still available everywhere two weeks ago. I don't know where it suddenly went...). And now: gargle vigorously. Okay, the bad breath isn't completely gone and there's a hint of "Eau de Keller" added, but what is now wafting from my mouth smells exactly like the new Woman III. Well, look at that - saved some money again!

Actually, I wanted to say more. But somehow I'm at a loss for words.....
Okay, okay - a little addendum:
The top note smells exactly like the original Woman III. However, it dissipates after just 15 minutes. What comes after that is this strange mixture I described above. A hint of Woman III, a hint of cellar, a hint of toothpaste. But only very, very faintly perceptible. The drydown reminds me a bit of Salvador Dali. But only for a few minutes. What remains smells like a rather nice aftershave. It's not bad. But also not good. And above all, hardly noticeable.
Conclusion: Lid on - toss in the bin - lid closed - forget.

Statements

3 short views on the fragrance

Gold

1 year ago

8.5Scent 7Longevity 6Sillage

17

13

It's not quite on par with the first version, but it was good. Bitter, strong chypre, green, base adjusted to reformulation rules.

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Blödel

8 years ago

4

Unfortunately not as good as it used to be, but still worth buying. Smells delicious from "start to finish." Long-lasting. Not everyone has it anymore.

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